Sing's opinion on the QB position . . .

If you read or listen to the rest of Singletary's comment, he went on to mention the tackle has to block and other guys have to do their job for Smith to make the throw and completion. Which is the same philosophy that Walsh had, which is with every completion the receiver has to make the catch, the back picking up the blitzer, the offensive line blocking, and other receivers blocking after the catch for RAC.

So how is it scary. Unless you're trying to make something out of nothing on a slow offseason to further the discussion

Originally posted by Leathaface:

Originally posted by tommyncal:
Does anyone else find this statement by Singletary perplexing or even scary? "To me, I still believe the quarterback position is really important. But I don't think it's what they make it out to be. 'The quarterback is the most important guy"...' I don't believe that. I really don't."
Seems like every coach, analyst or whoever, that has anything to do with the NFL, has stated, at one time or another, it all starts with the QB. Just curious how many of you believe the same or are you worried about Sing's vision and plan for this team into the future? I understand it takes more than just a QB to win, but, if you had to choose between a franchise QB and franchise (insert any other position) . . . I'll take the QB

Great post. I was contemplating starting the topic on this quote myself. It deserves a lot more attention.

I find it VERY SCARY that he thinks this. It's a QB driven league and if Singletary can't see that (which he obviously can't judging by his comments) we're going to be destined for another 8-8 season.

You can't mask your QBs deficiencies in this league. If we try to run-run-pass, we're going to be just as screwed as we were last season when our offense was bogging down.

Remember how stubborn to change our coaches were? We needed to pass the ball. This was 100% crystal clear to me by the middle of the game @ Arizona (week 1). We were successful when we let Hill pass via a spread attack. Defenses are going to crowd the line of scrimmage and blitz like hell if we're as predictable as we were last season. The coaches only changed when it was absolutely necessary (second half @HOU, second half @GB for two examples).

We need to put Smith in a position to succeed...b/c we need our QB to produce. We have to use 3 WR sets or sets with 2 WR and Vernon split out. Alex doesn't necessarily have to be out of the gun, but we need to make the formations more spread whether we run or pass. There is a happy balance that can exist in which we also use a FB (see the Arizona). My issue is, I don't believe we're going to start out like that...Singletary is going to try to pound the rock and we're going to be stuck with -2, -1, 0, 1, 2 yard gains.

If we try to congest the middle and pound it away, WE WILL LOSE and I can guarantee you that. Singletary obviously hasn't changed that much. It's going to take a 2-4 start to before any offensive changes happen.

I honestly don't think this has that much to do with Alex Smith...it has more to do with the unimaginative 1980s offensive mindset our coach has.

Great post dude.

I find it very perplexing that Singletary wants to go back to the same philosophy with this team. After all the strides we made out of the spread last year, Alex grew a TON last year because of this...and now Singletary wants to go back to run, run, pass. Ugh.....

He has to change mentality. I thought he was last year, but it doent look like it. A perfect example is Brian Billick and the Ravens. When he came to Baltimore Billick was known as a brilliant offensive minded coach. He tried to instill his high octane O in Baltimore. But guess what? He figured out his D was 20 times better than his O, and not having the right players on O, he had to revert to ball control. It got him a Super Bowl Ring. However, his downfall was that his ball control O couldnt last because he could not find the QB, the most important part of the O. Years and years of ineptitude on O cost him his job.

Singletary has to recognise the strenghts of our team, first with our QB, Alex Smith. It was proven how well he performed out of the spread last year. We should have continued to build on that. Im very happy about our draft, dont get me wrong. I just hope Singletary doesent restrict Jimmy Raye in a pathetic run up the gut philosophy that was anemic at the start of last year. We will not progress if our playcalling is limited and predictable. Now the NY Giants were a perfect example of ball control this decade and a good D, when they upset the Patriots. Thats a good model to have. I can dig that, BUT, we have to give Alex a chance instead of limiting him do to predictable play calls.

Originally posted by qnnhan7:
If you read or listen to the rest of Singletary's comment, he went on to mention the tackle has to block and other guys have to do their job for Smith to make the throw and completion. Which is the same philosophy that Walsh had, which is with every completion the receiver has to make the catch, the back picking up the blitzer, the offensive line blocking, and other receivers blocking after the catch for RAC.

So how is it scary. Unless you're trying to make something out of nothing on a slow offseason to further the discussion

And here you have your answer.

He is going with Alex Smith as the quarterback, so he obviously doesn't think the QB position is all that important.

i think this organization has brainwashed some of you 9er fans into believing this b.s., i am out on the east coast (frustrated) watching my team implode year after year. why, because the quarterback position is being ignored. i have never seen a team so intent on MAKING something work. they should have cut the line last year, but NO!! we'll give him another year to be..... Mediocre. feel like i've been beating a dead horse by myself. so aggrevating,because this is a very good team that could be even better. Donovan Mcnabb........nah, all set. How about McCoy dropping in their lap......Nope, We're good!! usually quarterbacks get it in their 2nd Year in the league, i guess we're hoping he'll finally get it in YEAR 5!!!! they will win NOTHING until they improve this position.

His theory is correct depending on what type of offense you play. You can't be on a pass happy offense and not have your QB as the most important player. During Peyton Manning and Drew Brees Superbowl wins ,can you replace them with Alex Smith to win a Superbowl? Probably No! could Alex Smith replaced Trent Dilfer or Brad Johnson during Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Super Bowl years? I would say Yes! In our situation Alex Smith doesn't have to be the most important player, he just have to be solid.

Sing has said this all along, it is his mantra. This is nothing new. Raye believes this as well and that is why he was hired to carry this out.

Sing has the coaching staff he wants, new linemen and line coaches, continuity, everything. He says he doesn't need a superstar QB, so everything is in place to win the West or else.

If the team falls flat and appears to be coached unrealistically it won't just be Smith who will be sacrificed.

Originally posted by Memphis9er:

Originally posted by qnnhan7:
If you read or listen to the rest of Singletary's comment, he went on to mention the tackle has to block and other guys have to do their job for Smith to make the throw and completion. Which is the same philosophy that Walsh had, which is with every completion the receiver has to make the catch, the back picking up the blitzer, the offensive line blocking, and other receivers blocking after the catch for RAC.

So how is it scary. Unless you're trying to make something out of nothing on a slow offseason to further the discussion

And here you have your answer.

I'll third that motion!

I'll take it even a step farther, with all that was mentioned above, some feel that to want every part working in order together, that its unrealistic, and the perfect scenario. Not just the average formula to be a succeessful QB in this league.

The comments don't bother me in the least. I agree.

OL and defense can take a rookie to the conference championships (see: Roethlisberger and Sanchez). Change that to someone with experience.. and you've got a Super Bowl contender...

Not trying to imply anything. Just saying...

Originally posted by tommyncal:

Originally posted by Joecool:
Perfect examples for Mike Singletary's case:

Troy Aikman
John Elway
Phil Simms
Dan Marino
Mark Rypien
Brett Favre
Steve Young

These guys could never win a superbowl until the running game was the main focus and Marino never won it. Steve Young never won until our defense was better than our offense. They all had the capabilities to get the job done when needed but their superbowl wins weren't mainly because of them.

So, if Alex Smith is the QB on those those superbowl winning teams, you think they still win the superbowl???

Someone is trying really hard to convince himself that we'll be good

Originally posted by Canadian49er:

Originally posted by tommyncal:

Originally posted by Joecool:
Perfect examples for Mike Singletary's case:

Troy Aikman
John Elway
Phil Simms
Dan Marino
Mark Rypien
Brett Favre
Steve Young

These guys could never win a superbowl until the running game was the main focus and Marino never won it. Steve Young never won until our defense was better than our offense. They all had the capabilities to get the job done when needed but their superbowl wins weren't mainly because of them.

So, if Alex Smith is the QB on those those superbowl winning teams, you think they still win the superbowl???

Someone is trying really hard to convince himself that we'll be good

A lot of those QB's could not win a Superbowl until Joe Montana got old and retired. Joe Cool owned them, Especially Elway and Marino!

Originally posted by gold49er2183:
I think it starts with the o-line. a good o-line can make a bad qb look great. no hate on tom brady but were would he be if he had a bad o-line his whole career

this

makes perfect sense given the state of our offense--our best player is our RB and our QB is unproven--so we will lean on our best player and limit the pressure on our QB.

When the QB gets comfortable and confident and surrounded with great players, and the coaches are comfortable with the QB, the offense gets put on his shoulders (See Roethlisberger, Ben; Brady, Tom; Brees, Drew; etc).

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
The comments don't bother me in the least. I agree.

OL and defense can take a rookie to the conference championships (see: Roethlisberger and Sanchez). Change that to someone with experience.. and you've got a Super Bowl contender...

Not trying to imply anything. Just saying...

The dominant teams that remained dominant had stability and pro-bowl caliber QBs throughout the decade.

Colts - Manning
Steelers - Roethlisberger
Patriots - Brady
Eagles - McNabb
Packers - Favre/Rodgers

etc...etc...

The only exception I can think is the Ravens. But they have a DEEP backfield and consistently hit on their OL and D picks, which we haven't done yet.

I think Singletary's validity on the statement is somewhat true, but the probability to make the playoffs and dominate in the NFL without a legit QB at the helm for multiple years is less than 10%.

Balance is the key to winning long term in the NFL. Sure, you may get a SB win, but if you're not a balanced team, you won't last long (see the Rams as a prime example).

Look at the Patriots during the 07 season. They gave up 21 sacks the whole season (that's about 30 less then what the 49ers average), and Brady was hardly touched all year. The Patriots O-line didn't give up more then 3 sacks a game until the Super Bowl.

Get to the Super Bowl and the Giants pretty much destroyed the Pats o-line. They gave up 5 sacks and the Patriots were held to below 20 points for the first time all season. That's not taking into account the times Brady was hit after a throw or when the Giants hurried him to throw a pass.

A QB like Brady fell apart when his o-line failed.

The 07 Patriots were not a balanced football team. Same with the Rams (look at how quick that fell apart).

49ers fans, for some unknown reason, seem to think that the o-line isn't important. Just plug the QB in there and everything will be good. Hogwash. Do you think Montana and Young would have been as good as they were if they didn't have the line in front of them that they did. Do you think the Cowboys would have won 3 Super Bowls if they didn't have the line they did.

That's what 49ers have been brainwashed into thinking. Just replace the QB and everything will be good. No team in this league will win when their sack totals look like this

04: 52 sacks
05: 48 sacks
06: 35 sacks
07: 55 sacks
08: 55 sacks
09: 40 sacks

That's 285 sacks over a 6 season span. Oh, and btw, the 49ers lowest sack total during that stretch was when Alex took every offensive snap (just throwing that out)

You can't just expect to replace the QB and expect the team to win. That's the point Singletary was trying to make. That's the point the majority of 49ers fans are failing to comprehend.

The QB is just one part of the overall team. Every player on both offense and defense has to do their part for the team to succeed. That's why its called a team sport, not an individual sport

[ Edited by linkboy on Apr 26, 2010 at 08:27:13 ]